New today - lots of concerns

kiz · 06-06-2008, 05:34 PM

What a coincidence entwife, my older brother, nephew, great nephew and great niece, and one on the way live in Houston. I've visited Houston a few times too, but it's been a while.

froggi1985, I'm so glad you feel Lap Band will work for you. It sounds like you must have done your research, and are well on your way to permanent weight loss. I hope you didn't get the impression that I thought Lap Band wouldn't be successful if you had a lot of weight to lose (although, even though my BMI is at the bottom of the acceptable range, I still have so much to lose too). I really meant that I would only *consider* gastric bypass if I had more substantial problems, but I would have still weighed the options for Lap Band. The idea of the gastric bypass scares the bejeebers out of me. Best of luck to your continued success!!!

I'm with ya bas!! I, like probably many others on this board, have a huge wardrobe of clothes that, unfortunately, span many sizes. I'm so looking forward to looking forward to shopping for clothes again.

Now, it's just a sad chore.

tommaney, I think you "hit the nail on the head" with this statement

:
>>His motto is "If you only have a hammer, every problem looks like a nail." That is, if a doctor is only skilled at one or two surgeries, then he/she may only see patients as fitting into his/her skill set.<<

I really believe the doctor did not have ill intent in his lack luster opinion of Lap Band (ill intent meaning, the almost triple cost for gastric bypass and pushing his specialty to gain patients). If I had to guess, I think he's very excited and pleased with his patient's results from GB, and his enthusiasm spilled over to an almost negative LB presentation. Also, thanks for those great resources, I've already checked them out, and will keep them bookmarked for more research.

Susanbee · 06-06-2008, 05:51 PM

let me give you my take on the subject.....I weight 267 and had a bmi of 42. My dr said i could have either. I was considering bypass just because i knew i would work. But I really wanted the band because of recovery time, less cutting and reversable. i pondered this for months and on 4/4 i was banded. i have lost over 35 pounds and feel great. Yes there are rules but one can live with them. I was a diet coke nut. Now i eat my fruit last with my meal....it waters down my meal....I'm loving my band and so thankful for it. I have had one fill and don't get hungry at all.....good luck with your decision.

regang30 · 06-06-2008, 06:19 PM

Hi all I am new to this site. I am so glad to have a place to turn to for some guidance. It is very encouraging to hear good things about the Lap Band procedure. At this point my doctor is submitting my request to insurance. So hopefully all goes well and that is approved and I will soon have a surgery date!!!

entwife · 06-06-2008, 06:33 PM

bas - we live in the same home town. Who did your surgery?

kiz · 06-09-2008, 07:48 PM

Thanks for the tip about having fruit with dinner, Susanbee. That seems like it would be a very good way to "wash" down food. I'm so glad that you're having such great success.

Good luck, Regang. I hope you hear back from your insurance soon.

I have some good news. I went to a seminar with a different surgical group and had a completely different experience. The doctor was very positive and gave a more balanced view of the lap band procedure. I also went to the seminar equipped with a lot more information after spending hours reading this site. I'm going to call their office in the morning and schedule an evaluation and cancel the appointment I made with the other office. I do think that if the doctor that actually performs the lap band surgery, rather than the gastric bypass specialist, had presented last week's meeting it would have been much better, at least for me. I'm glad, now, that it pushed me to find another office.

GramaLisa · 06-09-2008, 08:29 PM

Hi Kiz,
I am new to this too. I had a seminar and talk with the surgeon on May 17. My insurance is supposed to cover the surgery even though my BMI is 37.2. I have enough comorbidities to qualify, just waiting to hear something now.
I work as a transportation aide at our school district. I aide an autistic child while she rides the bus to school and home. Out of 50 or so bus drivers 6 have had gastric bypass surgery. Not one of them had a lap band. Of the 6, one has gained back all the weight she lost. She grazes all day long. I know this to be a fact because I have ridden the bus with her. Another one is still slim but she has osteoporosis and she told me it's because of the bypass. Another driver who once weighed in at over 300 pounds still maintains a slender body but she nearly lost her life because of it. She passed out while driving her bus because everything she ate went right through her! She crashed into a house and broke a lot of bones, mainly because of her body's inability to keep calcium in her body. Her teeth also look awful. Anyway, it's been nearly two years and she hasn't been able to return to work. The last I heard she had back surgery because she broke several bones when she crashed, several were in her spine. Those women who had bypass stink up the bathroom all the time! We have ONE toilet for about 50 women!!! Do I want gastric bypass surgery? NO WAY!!! It's Lap Band for me or nothing.
My nutritionist suggested I purchase the book called Lap Band for Life by Ariel Ortiz. I just got it in the mail on Saturday and I am almost through reading it. It's very informative and might be of interest to you. Of course you can find out tons of info on this website by reading posts. I read posts at least twice a day. Good luck with your journey. Grama Lisa

Froggi · 06-09-2008, 08:35 PM

kiz I am very happy you found a doctor now that supports your decision on Lap Band. That's wonderful!

kiz · 06-10-2008, 11:17 AM

You sound like me, GramaLisa. I want to read up on everything I can get my hands ahold of, to make the most informed decision possible. After I finish reading here, I'm going to look into ordering the book your nutritionist recommended. I'm sorry to hear about all the difficulties your friends at work have experienced with gastric bypass. Some of those are heart breaking. I don't know how I could cope with gaining all the weight back after going through such a life altering surgery. I hope you hear back real soon from your insurance.

Thanks for your kind words, froggi, but I'm not surprised, because you come from a great part of the country. My husband and I were born and raised in Parkersburg. We haven't lived there for years though. I think you were probably a little baby last time we called Parkersburg home. Where will you have your surgery?

Froggi · 06-10-2008, 11:32 AM

in parkersburg. I have been looking up Lap Band for a long time and was going to travel for it, but then I found out camden clark was getting Lap Band, so I am going there to get it done. they started it in march, and I should be having my surgery in november.

ZenGarden · 06-10-2008, 11:38 AM

If I had it to do over again, I wouldn't choose lap band OR RNY bypass, but would choose DS or VBG instead. You get better weight loss with the last two and less complications. Perhaps you should look into all of the bariatric surgery options to help decide which is best for you.

ZenGarden · 06-10-2008, 11:42 AM

PS - I've never been wild about Diet Coke at all, but do love Diet Sunkist and have not had any problems drinking it since I've been banded. There are a lot of myths with the band: no fizzy drinks ever again, no popcorn ever again, no bread ever again, etc....each person reacts to the band differently and you won't know exactly what you will be able to tolerate until you are actually banded.

Froggi · 06-10-2008, 11:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zengirl227

If I had it to do over again, I wouldn't choose lap band OR RNY bypass, but would choose DS or VBG instead. You get better weight loss with the last two and less complications. Perhaps you should look into all of the bariatric surgery options to help decide which is best for you.

Why do you come on here posting to people saying that other surgeries are better options? I mean seriously. I have seen you do this many times, telling people you wouldn't get banded again and would choose something else, and recommending other surgeries. People are coming here to LBT to learn about Lap Band. But either way whatever.

kiz · 06-10-2008, 12:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by froggi1985

in parkersburg. I have been looking up Lap Band for a long time and was going to travel for it, but then I found out camden clark was getting Lap Band, so I am going there to get it done. they started it in march, and I should be having my surgery in november.

That's great froggi. It'll be so much easier having your surgery and subsequent doctor's visits locally (I was born at Camden Clark too

). I would travel for it, if necessary, but nothing beats having your doc nearby.

zengirl, I'm sorry that you're not responding well to your lap band. I do have to wonder if your "cheats" aren't part of the problem. I'm a complete novice, so I'm in no position to know for sure, but it sure seems like the carbonated beverages could be wrecking havoc with your stomach pouch, leading to more hunger. I'm weaning off the carbonated drinks now. After yo yo dieting for several years, I'm going to try to follow my doctor's recommendations as much as possible. I'm sure there'll be good and bad days, but if I don't cut out the carbonated drinks, yeasty breads, and sweets, I'd be sabotaging my surgery. I know it's easier said than done, but I am a one who is very motivated by results. I have to gain a few pounds by my doctor's appointment (

) - never thought I'd say those words - so I am backing off my exercise a little, but I hope keeping active will help in dropping this excess weight. I do hope this turns around for you. I can imagine it must be terribly frustrating. Best wishes to you.

ZenGarden · 06-10-2008, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by froggi1985

Why do you come on here posting to people saying that other surgeries are better options? I mean seriously. I have seen you do this many times, telling people you wouldn't get banded again and would choose something else, and recommending other surgeries. People are coming here to LBT to learn about Lap Band. But either way whatever.

Sorry if I upset you, but I am only speaking from my own experience, which is what I thought this site was for. My apologies...

Froggi · 06-10-2008, 12:57 PM

Well you're telling people you get better weight loss with other surgeries, which isn't neccesarily true. Maybe you shouldn't be drinking soda, carbonation causes the pouch to stretch, if you did that with any of those surgeries you probably wouldnt be losing weight like you wanted. :|